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Many people in Saskatchewan count down the days until summer during the winter months. But for one group of Reginians, they wish winter would last longer.
Austin and Aimee Kot are among those who put on boots and clip them into cross-country skis on a beautiful winter day in Regina.
They’ve been participating in the sport for a few years.
“Sometimes people don’t know what to do in Saskatchewan in the winter, like looking for that adventure and nature, but you can find it here (in the city), too,” Aimee said.
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Austin said cross-country skiing is worth braving the cold.
“(I like) getting some fresh air, getting some good exercise, getting outside in the wintertime,” he said.
Aimee said anyone can try out the sport.
“I think it might take some getting used to if you haven’t been on skis before, but I think with a little practice, you can definitely get good at it,” Aimee said.
They’ve tried a few of the trails in Regina, White Butte and Kenosee Lake. But one of their favourites is the trail at Kinsmen Park South in Regina.
It gets so busy that track setters are out almost every day, and Austin and Aimee are grateful to the Regina Ski Club volunteers who make sure the trails are perfect.
It can take a couple of hours to maintain tracks for cross-country skiing. (Nicole Garn/980 CJME)
“It’s amazing,” Austin said.
“It allows us to actually get out and to enjoy the trails. We come here because they groom it, and we’re so thankful for that. It wouldn’t happen without them.”
David Hall is one of the Kinsmen Park track setters who volunteers his time.
David Hall has been volunteering with the Regina Ski Club for three years. He’s been cross-country skiing for as long as he can remember. (Nicole Garn/980 CJME)
“I happen to enjoy winter,” Hall said. “It’s not everybody’s cup of tea, I suppose. But I like cross-country skiing. I like being active. As a retiree, it gives me something to give back a little bit.”
It makes him happy to see people enjoying the park.
As one skier passed Hall by, they said, “thanks for all you do.”
“It’s a good community space,” Hall said. “People are using the park and that’s wonderful.”
Hall claims he’s no “snow scientist,” but he does have to keep an eye on weather conditions before going out to fix the trails.
“We look at temperature, we look at sun conditions, and we look at wind conditions,” he said.
“The corduroy, or the small grooves that make it so nice to skate ski, get blown in. And if you loosen up the snow too much, that top layer blows away.”
Wind in Regina is usually inevitable, but Hall says the community association is hoping to plant more trees and shrubs to help the wind problem.
Not only does Hall maintain the cross-country ski tracks, but also skate-skiing and walking paths.
Hall encourages people to try and avoid walking directly on the skiing trails.
“We will talk to people and try to educate in a polite way that we’ve got this side for walkers and this side for skiers,” he explained. “But you wouldn’t want to step directly in the classic trail as you’re crossing a ski trail to stay on your walking path.”
He said there haven’t been any major issues with people deliberately ruining tracks.
Hall said fun events and activities are always happening in the park and the club has plans to find-raise to improve walking trails and accessibility and possibly build a new playground.
“We’re working with the city and Lake View Community Association partners to see how much we can actually fit into this little park back here,” Hall said with a smile.
There are multiple signs around Kinsmen Park in Regina to inform people about activities and fundraising opportunities. (Nicole Garn/980 CJME)
‘If you can walk, you can cross-country ski’
Trevor Norgan has been cross-country skiing for around 25 years.
Now, he takes that passion into his work as the manager of Fresh Air Experience, an outdoor sporting goods store.
He said cross-country skiing is a great, low-impact workout.
“It’s one of the best full-body workouts or experiences for that,” he said. “It doesn’t feel like a workout at the end of the day.”
Trevor Norgan, manger of Fresh air Experience, says anyone can cross-country ski. (Nicole Garn/980 CJME)
He’s been on countless trips with Regina Ski Club and said it’s a community that has given him endless opportunities to go on cool trips, making memories and friendships along the way.
He said anyone can and should try cross-country skiing.
“If you can walk, you can cross-country ski,” he said with a laugh.
“I find with cross-country skiing, specifically classic skiing, you can ski at an older age. There are skiers out there that are 80 and 85 years old that are still skiing, and they’re still putting in, like, 20 kilometres and they’re having a great time.
“Just with that athletic activity, there are so many benefits physically, psychologically, emotionally as well — it checks all the boxes.”
Norgan feels lucky to live in Regina, which has six trails, and another nearby in White Butte, all maintained by the Regina Ski Club.
The trails in Regina are groomed almost daily. (Regina Ski Club website/screenshot)
“Within five minutes from my door, I can go to multiple trails and have a ton of fun, so I don’t have to travel anywhere,” Norgan said.
He said Fresh Air Experience offer $30 cross-country ski rentals and $44 skate-skiing rentals.
He highly recommends the 1.75km trail at Kinsmen Park South just because it’s “nice and flat.”
The Regina Ski Club also offers lessons to people wanting to learn.
Norgan said the cross-country skiing community is very inclusive and welcoming to everyone willing to try.
“If you ski one kilometre, you’re a cross-country skier, if you ski 40 kilometres, you’re a cross-country skier, everybody’s allowed,” he said.
He too wishes winter was longer.
Trevor Norgan applauds the Regina Ski Club volunteers who put in endless hours to manage the trails in and near Regina. (Nicole Garn/980 CJME)
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